PayPal (....is NOT necessarily your "pal")

Kudos to RedWeek for openly addresssing and identifying the limitations and shortcomings of PayPal (see article in the just released RedWeek monthly newsletter). I tip my cap to their effort to educate.

For the *recipient* of funds paid through PayPal, it's great --- money is promptly received and confirmed. For the *sender*, however, PayPal is nothing more than a crap shoot when a non-tangible item is involved. Rentals and travel are just such "non-tangibles", where no refund is likely available, unless it's with the consent and cooperation of the "recipient" of the funds. Obviously, if the "recipient" is dishonest to begin with, no such consent or cooperation will be forthcoming. It will instead be "thanks for the dough --- and goodbye!" (if, indeed, any response is even received at all).

Personally, I have long been amazed that people paying for certain things via PayPal somehow (and incorrectly) believe that there is some sort of security or protection that accompanies their doing so. That's plainly and simply NOT true, where "intangibles" are concerned.

Just my opinion, but I have NO use for "Paypal". To anticipate and answer one question in advance ---no, I've never been burned using Paypal as I've simply chosen NOT to ever use it. It simply does NOT provide a level playing field for both sides of a "non-tangibles" transaction.

Again, thanks and kudos to RedWeek for daring to say out loud that "the emperor has no clothes" when it comes to the imaginary, non-existent "protection" available to ANY buyer of "intangibles" using PayPal.

CAVEAT EMPTOR (buyer beware)......

Hi, I am a timeshare owner, who wants to rent it out. If somebody buys it online, I will feel secure and wish to spend the money (on maintenance in the first instance). So, imagine what happens if the buyer in the last moment will say - I don't want to go now. You will lose the whole thing if you pay him everything back. Do you think it is fair?

Re: >> ..... if the buyer in the last moment will say - I don't want to go now. You will lose the whole thing if you pay him everything back. Do you think it is fair? <<

Your concern is apparently one of rental terms. My issue was/ is renters using Pay Pal. They are related (but entirely different) subjects.

However, since you've asked, I'll be glad to clearly answer regarding what I happen to think is VERY fair. Use an escrow service, in which the prospective "renter " pays a 50% deposit right up front. If he/she later cancels the rental, he/she will NOT, by contractual, signed agreement, be entitled to ever get that 50% deposit back. In that situation, you ("landlord") have no risk whatsoever of "losing the whole thing" --- AND you might well still be able to rent your week. Even at half the original rental amount (because of shorter notice), your "net" proceeds would ultimately end up being just about the same. That's fair, in my book.

I don't like "one sided" deals and PayPal, in my already clearly expressed opinion, affords the most one-sided arrangement imaginable. The money *recipient* is the **ONLY** one protected in a non-tangibles PayPal transaction --- and THAT is not fair by ANY standard or measure.

Edited to provide link to Redweek's rental escrow; http://www.redweek.com/help/rental process/ escrow ......... and they *DON'T* accept PayPal for payment.